Intel Core i9-10980HK vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons 24-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-10980HK vs Intel Core i9-9900K and decide which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, streaming, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, 7zip, RealBench, Furmark, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Blender, Handbrake, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Gears 5, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Cyberpunk 2077
Borderlands 3
Fallout 76
Death Stranding
Watch Dogs Legion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Halo Infinite
DOOM: Eternal
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Valorant
Valheim
Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch
Apex Legends
Red Dead Redemption 2
Fortnite

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900K or Intel Core i9-10980HK.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-10980HK

55%

Core i9-9900K

55%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10980HK

55%

Core i9-9900K

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.2	98.2
Valorant	110.5	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	61.9	62.5
Apex Legends	103.9	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	82.9	83.7
Overwatch	89.5	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.2	77.0
DOOM Eternal	55.2	55.8
Warzone	86.2	87.0
Assassin's Creed	92.8	93.7
Valheim	91.7	92.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10980HK

106%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-10980HK is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900K since it has less power consumption: 45W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	219	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1627	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	507	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3643	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1136	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11013	12450

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	2913	2947
Multi-Core	16588	18753

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1437	1301
Multi-Core	9056	9986

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2018
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1440	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Comet Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	9
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	2.4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2100 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9900K is 33% better than Core i9-10980HK in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980HK is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 21
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-10980HK and Intel Core i9-9900K before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-10980HK - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-10980HK specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.